New life, new problems

“Really man, I can’t thank you enough for the help you’ve given me.”

Jonah put down a light carboard box onto the floor of his new apartment. It was nothing fancy, a small three room apartment. But it was fully furnished, and the rent was reasonable. The Justice League was quick to find him new accommodations and a part time job as an office clerk at Queen industries. He was immensely grateful for everything that had already been given to him.

“Its nothing really.” Nightwing said placing down a second box, all of Jonah’s worldly possessions. “I’m sure you’ll make up for it in no time with your heroics. You already have in some part, saving Batgirl last week.”

“Hardly” Jonah scratched the back of his neck “I got my ass handed to me.”

Nightwing placed a comforting hand on his shoulder “But it was enough to get the villains to retreat. We can work on improvements later.”

“How is Batgirl feeling by the way? I haven’t had the chance to ask her, I think you guys are related?” Jonah had heard talk about something called the ‘batfamily’ and knew that both were members.

“Batgirl is fine, just a little out of it is all.” Nightwing laughed “We are very close yes, but teammates and friends. No blood relations.”

“Oh well that’s good to hear.” Jonah stammered “hey I don’t have anything in my fridge yet but if you wanna have a dri-”

“Hold that thought.” Nightwing listened to a voice in his ear “sounds like there’s trouble in Boston. Do you think you can get us there?”

“You’re going to have to be more specific.”

Nightwing opened his phone and showed Jonah a live news coverage by some woman named Cat Grant. Some villain was going on a rampage with his minions in front of Boston City Hall.

“Got it.” Jonah said, already creating a portal to the location.

Nightwing leaped through the open portal and Jonah followed close behind. He took a step down and almost tripped. The portal was a foot off of the ground which was not its intended placement.

Spread out in front Jonah was the plaza of Boston’s City Hall which had heavy use of red bricks and brutalist architecture.

Before Jonah could get a full grasp of the situation a voice shouted behind him.

“You’ll never stop us hero!” a man in a Balaklava said.

Instinctually ducking the man’s bat, Jonah struck him with a strong right hook. The goon hit the ground immediately. Jonah was surprised by his newfound strength again. He was going to have to hold back his punches on regular people.

Up ahead Nightwing was tussling with a very large and strong man with grey skin and a business suit. Jonah doubted that he was the leader since he mostly spoke in grunts as Nightwing quipped at him. Nightwing was agile, easily dodging any attack directed at him, but was having difficulty landing any meaningful blow.

At the same time a burst of sound exploded from down a Boston street followed quickly by a sharp gust of wind. All around the battle a yellow and red blur connected from goon to goon, causing them to fall over. Jonah could briefly make out a human figure stopping at each goon before they collapsed.

Finally, the blur rushed towards Jonah, stooping on his right side and shifting into a short young man in yellow and red super suit with a lightning motif.

“You’re the new guy right. Nice to meet you. What are your powers, teleporting right? Just like Sidey, RIP. What’s going on here. Is Nightwing doing ok?” The speedster spoke very quickly and honestly was already getting under Jonah’s skin.

“Cool it with the questions Impulse, this is still a battle.” Another voice appeared behind Jonah scaring the hell out of him.

Jonah spun around to look at the new mystery voice trying to understand how he snuck up on him in an open plaza. The voice’s source was a young man with black hair and blue eyes. He wore a red and black costume which sported red paneled wings under his arms. He gripped a bo staff and kept a constant view of area.

“Its Kid Flash now remember Robin?” Kid Flash retorted past Jonah.

“Sorry, still weird for me to see you in that uniform.” Robin responded.

“Its nice to meet both of you but shouldn’t we be focusing right now?” Jonah asked.

“We didn’t ask for Nightwing or your help.” Robin said, putting more emphasis onto Nightwing “This was supposed to be our team’s territory.”

“But we always appreciate team ups, so we’ll welcome your help.” Kid Flash said, trying to smooth the angst.

The two men ran towards battle, one much faster than the other.

“Am I the last to show up again?” came a feminine voice from the direction that Robin and Kid Flash arrived from.

Jonah recognized the new arrival as Wonder Girl, who he had met on the Watchtower not too long after he arrived on this earth. She pouted for a second before flying into battle, whipping her lasso onto the enemy. Before she could ground herself and try and pull the man down, he grabbed the rope and flung her across the plaza. Before she could collide with the ground Kid Flash sped to where she was going to land and caught her.

“Porter, I need to get above this guy. You think you can do that for me?” Nightwing said while flipping in his general direction. This guy was a real acrobat, Jonah wondered how he was so agile with no powers.

“Sure thing.” Jonah replied quickly producing a portal onto the group whose twin appeared above the brute.

“Thanks.” Nightwing said leaping feet first into the hole.

Nightwing landed on the enemies’ shoulders and grappled with him. Pulling out one of his escrima sticks and pushing it firmly into muscular neck meat. Clawing at his neck the brute left arm was hooked by Wonder Girl’s lasso.

“Kid Flash, combo B-2.” Robin shouted, throwing a smoke bomb at his eyes.

“Got it.” Kid Flash responded.

He got into a runners start and blasted past his opponent. No more than a couple moments later the red blur appeared again at top speed and slammed an electrified upper cut into the brute’s chin. The grey giant stumbled a second before collapsing to the ground, ****.

The battle finished Kid Flash high fived Nightwing, Robin, Wonder Girl, and Porter in that order.

While the two bird boys spoke to the police, Wonder Girl approached Jonah. She was visibly nervous this time, wringing her hands as she spoke. Maybe it was because she didn’t have the support of Batgirl this time.

“Hello, I’m not sure if you remember me but I’m-”

“Wonder Girl I remember.” Jonah said with a smile.

Wonder Girl gave a relieved sigh “That’s good. I hear your Porter.” She gestured to his temporary superhero costume. “Thanks for the help out there. You did a good job.”

“No need to sugar coat it, I barely did anything.”

“That’s ok! We all start somewhere. Me and the boys started young is all.” The young woman tried maintaining a positive attitude for both of them.

Jonah Smiled at the tomboy superhero, she didn’t have the grace or perfection as her namesake, but she had her charms. Jonah noticed that his second ability had been activated while speaking to her. It had become an **** habit that he tried to control better. It seemed to activate whenever he was in close proximity of any woman that he found attractive. Well, what was the worst that could happen. As long as they thought the effects were authentic emotional and physical reactions.

“Nice work out there newbie. But your reaction times need work. If you ever need a trainer I kno-” Nightwing began to say before being interrupted by Robin.

“Don’t try poaching him just yet Nightwing. My teams down a teleporter and you have Raven and Cyborg.”

“I’m not trying to poach anybody Robin. If he joins the titans, the team, the justice league, or none at all is up to him.”

“I think we are moving a little too fast here.” Jonah started “I would appreciate help from all of you. You all seem like great heroes.”

Robin pulled out a business card and handed it to Jonah “If you change your mind this is how you reach us. Let’s go guys, Spoiler and Artemis have a briefing for us.”

Jonah watched the trio leave as fast as they arrived before turning to Nightwing “Is it always this fast paced?”

“Sometimes. Sometimes its deadly boring.”

“Right. You need a ride?” Jonah asked, waving his portal hand.

“Sure.”